Flooring Advice
Most flooring failures trace back to the subfloor. Skipping preparation to save money is the most common mistake we see — and it always costs more to fix than it would have cost to do it properly first time.
We've seen beautiful floors fail within months. Not because of the product — but because of what was underneath. Laminate joints cracking. LVT lifting at the edges. Engineered wood creaking with every step. In almost every case, the cause is the same: inadequate subfloor preparation.
A good subfloor needs to be dry, level and structurally sound. Any floor laid over a subfloor that fails one of those three criteria is at risk. It's not a question of if it will cause problems — it's when.
We include a full subfloor assessment with every home visit, and we don't lay a floor until the subfloor is right. It's one of the reasons our installations last.
Subfloor Types
Different subfloors have different requirements. Here's what to expect with each type and what needs doing before a new floor goes down.
The most common subfloor in modern homes and all ground floors. Needs to be checked for moisture — any reading above acceptable levels requires a damp-proof membrane (DPM) before installation. Must be level to within 3mm per 1800mm. Self-levelling compound is used to correct any variation.
Common in older properties across the North West — terraces, semis, period homes. Individual boards must be screwed down, gaps filled or boarded over, and the moisture content checked. A plywood overlay is often required to create a smooth, even surface before the new floor goes down.
Can sometimes be overlaid if they are fully adhered, level, and structurally sound. If any tiles are loose, hollow or cracked, they must be removed. Overlaying adds height — this needs to be accounted for at doorways and at transitions to adjacent rooms.
Always removed before any hard floor is laid. No exceptions. Carpet is too soft and compressible to provide a stable base — laying over it will cause the new floor to flex, the joints to crack, and the whole installation to fail.
Found in many older Lancashire and Yorkshire properties. Often uneven and sometimes damp. Flagstones can be overlaid with self-levelling compound once moisture is addressed, but significant height differences may require a full screed layer.
Common in newer homes and upper floors. Generally a good base when well-fitted, but needs to be checked for movement, squeaks and moisture. Loose boards must be screwed down before any floating floor goes over.
Common Issues
These are the issues that cause most flooring failures. All of them are fixable — but they need to be addressed before the floor goes down.
The most serious problem. Moisture in a concrete subfloor — either rising damp or residual construction moisture — will damage most floor types and cause adhesives to fail.
We test for moisture before every installation. Where damp is present, we apply a damp-proof membrane (DPM) — either a liquid-applied system or a sheet membrane, depending on the level of moisture.
Any variation greater than 3mm per 1800mm will cause problems. Over a high spot, the floor will bounce. Over a hollow, joints will flex and crack over time.
We use self-levelling compound to correct uneven concrete and plywood overlays to correct uneven timber subfloors. It adds time to the job — but it's not optional.
A common problem in older timber-floored properties. Squeaks happen when boards move slightly against each other or against the joists.
The fix is to screw the boards down firmly — either directly into joists or using construction screws at the right spacing. Where boards are cupped or warped beyond saving, we replace them or overlay with ply.
Installing a floating floor over squeaky boards simply transfers the squeak to the new floor. It must be dealt with first.
New floors add height. Most floor products are 6–12mm thick with underlay. Doors often need to be trimmed to allow them to open over the new floor.
We always account for door clearance as part of the planning process. Internal doors can usually be trimmed at the bottom without needing to be rehung. We advise on this at the quote stage.
What We Include
We don't hand you a list of prep work and tell you to sort it yourself. Subfloor preparation is included in our full installation service.
All subfloor work is included in your quote — no surprises on the day.
Related Pages
Free Home Assessment
Every home visit includes a full subfloor assessment. We'll tell you exactly what needs doing — honestly — before we give you a quote. No obligation, no charge.
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